A Tale of Two Lincolns

Home , Harley Copp, Jackie Trent, Tony Hatch

Volume 19 Issue 3 March 1, 2019

Pat Corbett’s Continental at the City Garage, Salado, TX

Welcome to the Northstar News, the he story began in 1973 when I was a second year college senior at the University of Texas in Austin. Driving home from work one evening, I passed the Buick used car lot and monthly publication of on the corner sat a 1969 Lincoln Continental Sedan. The price was $2,800. She had be- the Northstar Region longed to a local bank executive. I bought the car and sold my '61 Chevrolet Biscayne to a of the Lincoln and neighbor college student for $300. A slight move up by most standards. This Lincoln was my pride and joy. It was as if I had fulfilled a dream and goal in life to Continental Owners own a Lincoln. My love for Lincoln was already in my blood. I had worked part time a few Club. We value your years earlier in Texarkana for a pipe organ builder out of Little Rock, Arkansas. He traveled opinions and appreciate the great Southwest in a 1965 Lincoln Continental sedan with a Sears luggage rack clamped to the drip rails. We would place 500 pound pipe organ wind chests on this car's roof and drive your input concerning across town to unload them and install in another church. We usually had a few husky boys to this newsletter and the assist with this maneuver. Even at this early age, I considered Lincoln to be the finest auto operation of the club. ever produced. For the next two years, she was a delight to own, the ladies loved the car, and I traveled in This is your club.

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This Issue Contains Feature Story 1 Directors Message 3 Club Information Page 4 Northstar Monthly Board Meeting Minutes 5 Editors Message 2 North Star Events 17 Trivia 2

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Trivia from the Editors Message March 2019 Internet Gentle Readers…. It is the last Sunday in the software that I have to make it look nice February, and I am struggling to get the news- on paper. letter for March finished so I can get it The real heart of our beloved North Star proofed, printed, and mailed out to our mem- club and to a lesser extent, this newsletter is bers by the end of the month. the personal connection that we have with our It is the early afternoon, and I have just membership. Yes, many of us have some very finished taking Sweet Olga out fine Lincolns… And a few of to do the kind of things that us are blessed with having they must do every so often. more than one in our garage. The sun was very bright, and But, in today's world, It is the while it is cold, there is some many friendships and social melting going on where the connections that we make powerful rays of the sun make through our membership in contact with the concrete floor the various automotive related of my front porch. We were clubs that we belong to. I at- Tony Hatch lucky enough to get another tended the February potluck Composer/Arranger inch or two of snow overnight, dinner and auction at the Fire- and we are having strong man’s museum and what a winds now; which continue to nice evening that was. The Anthony Peter scatter the snow everywhere. food was good, the meeting Hatch (born June 30, My optimism of an early place was perfect for the occa- 1939), credited as pen spring is fading a bit. My very sion, and there were a good good and kind neighbors, Ed group of people to visit with name Tony Hatch, Sweet Olga has met a new and Pat Easton; who live across and to talk about a wide range friend at the Fireman’s Muse- Fred Nightingale, and Brandywine from me were of interesting topics. It is just um. She had a nice evening Mark Anthony, is an over a bit earlier with their not about automobiles any- meeting and greeting all the English composer for snow blower and hardy shovels more… It is the good feeling people who came to the pot- with which they cleaned off my you get when you spend some musical theater and luck. television. He is also a front porch, sidewalk, and quality time with those folks driveway. If anyone deserves sainthood, these that you really enjoy being with. noted songwriter, pia- gentle folks do. Be sure to check out our activities. Bob nist, arranger, and We really need original material from our Johnson mentions them in his column, and we producer. members. For the March issue, I had to go also list them on pages 17 and 18 of this issue. Tony Hatch was back into my collection of Comments, find March will see us at Holman’s Table over in born in Pinner, Mid- some interesting stuff, scan the magazine and St. Paul at (wouldn’t you guess) Holman Field, the airfield located on the South side of dlesex. Encouraged by run the scans through the recognition pro- grams; which convert something you scan into St. Paul. They do not offer a traditional brunch his musical abilities, a usable, editable Word document suitable for that we seem to like, but their menu does look his mother – also a pia- publishing. Fortunately, I have some good pretty good. It has been in business for a few nist – enrolled him in scanning equipment and a ton of software; years and has some good ratings on the inter- the London Choir which does a pretty good job, but it all takes net, so let’s give them a chance. School in Wansunt time, and I should have allowed another day Lincoln is selling cars, thanks to their or two to do this in a more orderly fashion. I Navigator and the new Nautilus, both winners. Road, Bexley, Kent would appreciate it very much if you could try The public seems to really like them, and when he was 10. In- and send in a story about your Lincoln. It these two models are holding their own stead of continuing at doesn’t matter if it is an older one or a newer against some real competition. The all new the Royal Academy of one, just tell us about it.. what you like best Aviator will be out later this summer. This Music, he left school in and what attracted you to that particular year model will fit between the Navigator and the Nautilus and have three row seating. It should 1955 and found a job and mode. If you have a newer model; which you might consider your everyday driver, tell sell very well and help Lincoln out in growing with Robert Mellin us about that one too. We want to here your their market share in the U.S. All I ask is that Music in London's Tin stories. Don’t be afraid to write, most of us they do not give up on the Continental. Such a Pan Alley. were not English Majors in high school, in fine car, but when the marketplace wants Not long after fact, my high school English teacher, Gertrude SUVs, what is Lincoln going to do. working as a tea boy, LaMontagne, wondered if I would ever finish Till next month...David and Sweet Olga, the Samoyed... (Continued on page 3) high school, much less college. Write your story, send it to me, and I can clean it up with

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(Continued from page 2) he was writing songs Directors Message by Bob Johnson March 2019 and making a name for Just remember when: 2017 we had record temperatures himself within the re- in February; which was really special for us all to enjoy! It cording industry, joining was like having April weather, but the reality of 2019 is a The Rank Organization's record amount of snow this month and more to come. We new subsidiary Top canceled our monthly North Star Board meeting twice due to bad roads and will not have a February meeting as our Rank Records; there he March meeting will be March 7. worked for future Decca Our February activity was a joint Potluck and Auction with Records A&R man Dick the CCCA Saturday, February 16 at the Firefighter’s Muse- Rowe. While he served um. It is always nice to gather with the CCCA and renew his National Service, he old friendships. There was a nice group of members from became involved with both clubs in attendance that enjoyed the warm get together and our fellowship between the the Band of the Cold- CCCA and LCOC Clubs, a great way to spend the day. In March, our Sunday Brunch will be at Jax’s Cafe, 1928 University Avenue NE, Min- stream Guards. neapolis, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. They have two seating times for Sunday Brunch, 10:30 In 1960, Garry Mills's and 12:30 so our normal 11:30 would not work. Please RSVP to Jay White by Wednesday, (trumpeter Nat Gonella's March 20, if you plan on attending. nephew) recording of Our April Sunday Brunch will be April 28, 2017, at Holman’s Table Restaurant, 644 Hatch's composition Bayfield St, St. Paul, at 11:30 a.m. "Look for a Star," fea- Again this year, we have been invited to have a Lincoln car display Saturday, May 18, tured in the film Circus 11, a.m. to 3 p.m., hosted by members Jeff and Wendy Eisenberg, at their Libson Twin City of Horrors, became a Auto, 1218 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis. This will be held in conjunction with the Central Avenue ART-A-WHIRL, it is an open studio tour in Northeast Minneapolis. Jeff will con- Top Ten hit in the UK duct a tech session at 11 a.m. You will then have a great opportunity to tour private artist for Top Rank. Four ver- studios and galleries, connect with the artists, and purchase original artwork. It has been sions of the song charted held for the past 24 years. Jeff and Wendy will be serving up a light lunch, simultaneously in the The Lincoln Car Museum website now has the 2019 Meet Registration packet PDF United States, including ready for your use, go to lincolncarmuseum.org to download or you can type into it directly Mills' original and a ver- then save and then email or mail to Meet Registration to me, Bob Johnson. Plans for 2019 , sion by 'Garry Miles' (a include a special event, a new major feature is added for Monday, August 12 a full day at the US131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Michigan where you can run your car or just watch. You recording alias of a fu- can just drive your car on the track or punch it for speed and time. Our cars have the horse- ture member of The power to move out at whatever pace you choose. At the US131 Motorsports Park, you can Crickets, Buzz Cason). do it in a supervised and lawful environment. You will be able to do as many timing runs Top Rank, despite some as the day will allow during our six hour time block. You can pick and choose what you worldwide success with want to do. Again, remember that the hotels and tours have limited space so register early to artists such as Jack Scott get your choice. The early bird will get the worm or in this case the choice of activities that and The Fireballs, ulti- you want. mately failed because of North Star membership renewals for 2019, 85 members have renewed, Dave Gustafson would appreciate your updating the information on the renewal form. Dues will remain at an unusual distribution $20 again for this coming year. Please, it send back to Matt Foley with your renewal check arrangement with EMI. so we can update our membership directory. A swift succession of We always need “Our Pride and Joy” articles about your Lincoln. This winter is a great events ensued through time to write that article about your car that you keep putting off during the summer be- 1961 that Top Rank was cause you were to busy. Please share your story about your car with all of our members; we sold to EMI, briefly oper- would like to know how you got it, what you enjoy about it, what you have done to it or ated as a subsidiary, have left to do. Please send your article to Dave Gustafson; he can only do the newsletter with material that you send him, so get busy. with hits by John Leyton, As always, keeps the journey continuing in our marvelous Lincolns. and shuttered, with its artists transferred to other EMI labels. Hatch Bob and Mary Johnson... moved on to a part-time (Continued on page 5)

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Board Of Directors - 2019

Title Name Phone Numbers email Term Ends

Regional Director Bob Johnson H(651)257-1715 [email protected] 2041

H(952)473-3038 Secretary Roger Wothe [email protected] 2020 O(952)583-5339 Treasurer Matt Foley C(612)280-4930 [email protected] 2021

Activities Director Jay White H(612)559-3219 [email protected] 2021

Director Bob Roth H(763)475-1429 2021 Publications/ Dave Gustafson H(952)435-1919 [email protected] 2021 Membership

Director Tom Brace H(651)644-1716 [email protected] 2021

Director Bill Holaday H(763)402-1171 [email protected] 2020

Director Larry Sasse H(952)440-5024 [email protected] 2020

Members and guests are welcome to attend the Board Meetings. Our meeting location, unless otherwise specified, will be held at Bloomington Lincoln in their conference room. Meeting time will be 6:30 pm on the first Thursday of each month, except December.

Articles and other information for the newsletter should be sent to David Gustafson, Editor, at 308 Brandywine Drive, Burnsville, MN 55337. email: [email protected]

More Pat Corbett... (Continued from page 1) style. Then the oil embargo in 1975 shot gas prices to over 50¢ a gallon with rationing to boot. I panicked and traded the Lincoln for a new Ford pickup to get better mileage and I added a 50 gallon tank for re- serve gas. Over 30 years have passed, and memories of that car have always been on my mind. Because I have always been a do-it-yourselfer, constantly building stuff, I have continued to drive pick-ups until this very day. Nonetheless, the 60s Lincolns have always been a passion with me as the finest American made autos. In 2007, I began surfing the internet for Lincolns as a pastime. One of my "favorite places" to browse was Lincoln Land in Florida. Another view of Pat’s 1969 Continental sedan One day in January, I was browsing this site and there she was, a '69 Lincoln Continental sedan. From the pictures she looked pretty clean. So, I called and discussed the car with them and then flew down to look her over. In comparison to many cars of this vintage, she was well taken care of. However, she had a dent in her trunk deck and rust in several places. However, the engine was smooth and pulled a steady 20 inches vacuum. After some negotiation on the price, she was now my car. I engaged a closed carrier transport and flew back to Austin. An interesting aspect of this Lincoln was her original owner's manual with several license registrations and insurance cards located in the glove box, providing me some historical perspec- tive on her past life. I realized that after 38 years, I had better go through this car in detail if I was going to drive it with any confidence. Although one of the employees at Lincoln Land kept telling me, "this is a good one" I knew that was only relative to other 38 year old cars. After looking at so many "finds" and "resurrections" from the junk yard that others were so proud to display, she was "a good one," but the reality was that she needed lots of attention. Also, it seemed that finding a '69 was a rare enough experience in itself. She arrived on a cold, drizzly Sunday in January. The transport driver backed her out of the carrier and drove her into my garage. And there she sat for three months. I jacked her up on blocks and began a tear down into her inner self. Lincoln, I discovered, used (Continued on page 6)

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(Continued from page 3) job with Pye Records; Northstar Monthly Board Meeting Minutes where he assisted his new mentor, Alan A. Freeman, with the re- Due to the never ending string of bad weather days occurring on Thursday eve- cording of "Sailor," a nings, there was no Northstar Board Meeting this February. Hopefully, March number 1 hit for Petu- will treat us much better. la Clark. Hatch continued to write songs for Pye artists, sometimes under the pseudonym 'Mark Anthony,' including the popular "Messing About on the River" for Josh MacRae. In 1963, Phil- adelphia teen idol Bob- by Rydell hit the charts with "Forget Him" written and produced by Hatch, who went on to produce, arrange and write for other American stars such as Chubby Check- er, Connie Francis, Pat Boone, Big Dee Irwin, and Keely Smith. In 1964 he wrote (under the pseudonym of 'Fred Nightingale') the Searchers' hit "Sugar and Spice."

While at Pye, he produced many of their artists: The Searchers, David Bow- ie, Mark Wynter, The Settlers, the Viscounts, (Continued on page 6)

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(Continued from page 5) Julie Grant, Gary Mil- Pat Corbett, a very Continental person ler, Benny Hill, The Overlanders, Roy (Continued from page 4) ered with the choke. We started her up one real sheet metal so, for the most part, the rust cool March evening and took her for a shake- Budd, The Brook was superficial. There was one rust through on down cruise around the rural neighborhood we Brothers, Jimmy Jus- the rear under the trunk deck overhang. The live in. She was a delight to drive, but there tice, The Montanas, chrome was decent, but would never be con- were other things needing to be done. The first Miki & Griff, Emile cours acceptable without a complete and very thing was a new set of steel belted radials and Ford, Craig Douglas, expensive restoration. The top surfaces of shock absorbers. The exhaust system was things like door handles were slightly pitted, stainless steel, but a cheap one at that, and it Bruce Forsyth, Sue and hidden places were quite crusty. had a hollow sound, was loud and un-Lincoln Nicholls, The Breaka- At this same time, I discovered and joined like. With Baker's best connected to the mani- ways, Norman the Lincoln and Continental Owners Club, fold, the Lincoln was now purring as it should. Vaughan, Buddy both nationally and regionally. I discovered On another weekend we replaced the oil Greco, Sacha Distel, parts houses like Baker's and Green Sales; pump for good measure. This procedure is by Anne Shelton, Sweet which I should now own stock. On eBay, I no means a task for the inhibited or inexperi- located many items I wanted to replace on the enced. Pitfalls abound, and every step is note- Sensation, David Par- car. As I delved into the world of auto restora- worthy. With any luck, this will be the last oil ton and Graduate tion, I found I was immersing myself into a pump I ever replace. When we pulled the pan, among others. separate culture. My logic told me that these Larry gazed up into the engine and commented His production of perfect restorations I saw in the LCOC Com- this was the cleanest 460 he had seen in a long The Searchers' entire ments just did not happen like manna from time. And there was no sludge in the pan to heaven and there were people out there that boot. That was a comforting remark that gave Pye catalogue was sig- serviced this industry. The only question in me more confidence in this car. nificant in that nearly my mind was at what cost? Another neighbor, Pat, has a transmission every song was issued My goal was to make this Lincoln safe shop just down the road. There was a little slip in true stereo. The on- and road worthy, license it in Texas as an an- between first and second gear and an intermit- ly other UK chart acts tique and enjoy driving her while I continued tent leak on the front seal. I took her in and with so much stereo with the restoration process. I did not have the when Pat looked her over he began telling me money to make this Lincoln a Comments Cov- of his childhood at his daddy's transmission were George Martin er Girl. But I did have a reasonable poor-boy shop in Austin and how his daddy had loved producing The Beatles budget. I also have a passion for the Lincoln the '64 Lincoln so much he had owned four. and Ron Richards pro- that requires I experience the feel of her on the He embraced my car with a distinct love for ducing The Hollies road, enjoy the purr of her 460 loping at 70 this machine. After he laid hands on her, she (although a handful of mph, and the grace of her suspension as she shifted smooth as silk. early Hollies albums squats into a bend in the roads of the Texas The Texas Regional Fall Meet in Marble Hill Country. Falls in 2007 was now only three weeks away, were initially issued Another important factor in this quest is and I wanted to enter her in the show. Everyone only in mono). that I am not a mechanic, but I am mechani- in our Lone Star Region that I knew encour- Hatch also record- cally inclined. Before my even going to Flori- aged me to enter her, even with the dent in the ed various lounge style da to look at her, I called my neighbor, Larry; trunk. Well, even though I was not building a albums with his or- who is a professional, 35 year, veteran me- Concours quality, frame-up restoration I did chanic. He started in the business during the have my pride. chestra; he also made '60s as a mechanic for the Austin based Roy Although I had spent countless hours un- solo piano recordings Butler Lincoln dealership. He had personally der the wheel wells and front end sanding and some tracks as a serviced the Lincoln fleet of President Lyndon away rust and consumed what seemed to me at vocalist. Johnson and his family during and after his least a 55 gallon drum of chrome polish, there After "Valentino," presidency. Larry's daddy was also a mechanic was that dent and rust through on the rear end the first of Hatch's there for several years past, so Larry was that was well beyond my ability. After some taught a family tradition and knew the '60s and inquiry among the usual body shop outlets in compositions to be rec- '70s Lincolns inside and out. His promise to my area, I was directed to a fellow named orded by Petula Clark, help me with this '69 was the key to my navi- Danny; who owned a little shop that I was told he became her regular gation system into this upcoming adventure did custom work. producer. They collab- through the uncharted mechanical territory. I took the Lincoln to Danny so he could orated on a series of After three months in the garage, we had assess my little irritations. After some time in rebuilt the front disc brakes, cored the radia- discussion with him, I could see his experience (Continued on page 7) tor, replaced the main coolant hoses, and tink- (Continued on page 7)

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(Continued from page 6) French-language record- Pat Corbett’s adventure continues ings for Vogue Records. (Continued from page 6) the engine bay. I had suspected the master cyl- (Clark, whose husband was parallel to his gray hair. He had a '69 inder was beginning to fail, so a new one was was French and who GTO Judge in the paint booth at that time, purchased. In removing the old one, we dis• spoke the language flu- and I could see his work was based on experi- covered an inordinate amount of rust in and ently, had a successful ence and a love of the craft. The dent was around the vacuum booster. All was replaced removed without any holes drilled, or Bondo including new stainless steel brake lines. The career throughout Eu- applied, and the paint matched and was feath- water pump had been replaced sometime in the rope.) Hatch became one ered in. He ground out the rusted trunk metal past and was rusty. Out with that, paint a new of her regular songwrit- and welded sheet metal in the rust through to one Ford Corporate Blue and install. ing partners, in addition match the other side. The appearance now At one time there had been small engine to supplying English lyr- was a factory quality repair. fire on the intake manifold resulting in dam- ics for songs she had The Lincoln and I arrived in Marble age to the wiring harness that serves engine Falls to find a parking lot full of the '60s and mounted items. This was replaced with all composed with French '70s Lincolns and Marks with a few '50s and new wiring to match the original. The wiring lyricists. '80s to dress it out. Something told me these harness on the left side was also replaced due In 1964, Hatch made fun loving Lincoln owners were also very to age and cracking insulation. The intake his first trip to New serious about their Lincolns. I was met with manifold, idler pulleys, harmonic balancer, York City in search of enthusiasm and typical Texas hospitality so I brackets, and other engine mounted items felt at ease among these Lincoln connois- were glass bead cleaned to a shiny appearance new material for Clark. seurs. The next day, the cars were prepped then painted to semi-gloss black or Ford Blue The visit inspired him to and judged. My Lincoln was inspected by as required. The wife's clothesline looked like write "Downtown," origi- three long-time and respected members in- a prop from the Beverly Hillbillies. nally with The Drifters cluding our current President, Glenn Kramer. I replaced the voltage regulator and alter- in mind. When Clark I think they were generous with their scoring nator as well. Larry told me that FOMOCO heard the still unfinished as there were some pretty spiffy Lincolns voltage regulators had blue covers, so I took sitting beside me. She did very well except in the black cover, painted it Ford Blue and tune, she told him that if the one area that had not been worked on, the placed the proper decal on it for originality. he could write lyrics to engine bay. This was no surprise, and it set Larry said they always told the parts guy at the match the quality of the me in the direction of my next quest. dealership they needed a "blue top" and they music, she would record were always handed a correct voltage regula- the song as her next sin- tor. Lest we not forget the carburetor, I sent it gle. Its release trans- to a self acclaimed carburetor shop back east formed her into a huge touting 61 years of experience. The carb came international star, top- home complete with fresh chromate plating. I ping charts globally ear- learned that because of the position of the gas ly in 1965, and introduc- filter, tightening it would torque the upper ing her to the U.S. mar- casing of the carburetor and cause the gas leak. ket. "Downtown" peaked There have been a few setbacks along the at number two in Brit- Pat’s engine compartment looks much better way. I was loading coolant after we had rebuilt ain, stuck behind the than any Lincoln ever delivered to a custom- the engine bay. I noticed a drip leak on the Beatles' great hit "I Feel er. The attention to detail is amazing. front of the block. We then discovered it was Fine." Clark then charted between the timing chain cover and engine with three consecutive In November the engine bay was torn block. So, tearing everything off the front of apart. In order to paint the intake manifold the motor again we discovered that at some hits written by Hatch: "I and rocker arm covers, they were removed. A time in the more recent past a mechanic had Know a Place," "You'd seeping oil leak at the back of the intake man- replaced the timing chain set and NOT re- Better Come Home," and ifold needed attention. I discovered a leak in placed the timing chain gasket. "Round Every Corner," the pressure line for the power steering, so I had one more visit scheduled with Dan- which all charted higher that the entire circuit was replaced with new ny. The Lincoln came to me with a hood orna- stainless steel hydraulic lines. I also became ment on the front cowling in front of the hood. in the U.S. than in the intimately familiar with a die grinder and the And it was a '74 or '75 ornament. I love the UK. She and Hatch co- assorted polishing and sanding disks made look of the hood ornament, but, on the other wrote "You're The One;" available. Nothing was going untouched in (Continued on page 8) (Continued on page 8) 7

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(Continued from page 7) which peaked at 22 in More Pat Corbett’s Continental Britain but gave The (Continued from page 7) power steering fluid on the engine. OK, I am Vogues a major debut hit hand, the 1969 model just does not look right in a town of 2,000 on a sleepy Sunday after- in the States. Tony with it. Danny welded new metal on the noon, and only sheer panic was present. Hatch and Petula Clark cowling in a butt splice and refinished the front to factory original. Now, after gazing at became established as her front end with this reversal to factory the British equivalent of design, she is more beautiful than ever. The Burt Bacharach and Di- goal of this second round of restoration was onne Warwick. In 1965, not only to clean up the appearance of the Hatch's first album un- engine bay but have it mechanically new and der his own name was very reliable. The 20th Anniversary Texas Regional released. The Downtown Meet in Salado, Texas in 2008 was our next Sound of Tony Hatch, show stop. The cruise to Salado was especially features instrumental good. Taking the Texas back roads instead of versions of some of his the Interstate, the ride was very memorable in best known songs, along itself. This was the first time in literally four “Doc” Ellis and Pat Corbett at the Salado, months that I had the opportunity to drive her with new compositions. Texas Lincoln show. For many years Doc any distance at all and experience her stately Ellis helped host this wonderful show that The song "Call Me," ride. The wild flowers were in full bloom, the drew folks from all over the country. Sadly, written for and recorded pastures were green with alfalfa, and there was all good things eventually come to an end and by Petula Clark in 1965, not a cloud in the sky. I tuned the AM radio the Salado show is now fading away in the was recorded by Chris and found a station out of San Antonio that rear view mirror. But, while it lasted…... Montez later in the played nothing but the '60s, '70s, and '80s country classics. For two hours I was trans- year. Released in No- After about ten seconds, I gathered my ported back in time to that first Lincoln I wits and walked up to the hotel where I found vember 1965, Montez's toured the Texas Hill Country in 35 years four of my fellow club members from LCOC version entered the U.S. ago. Nothing could be finer! chatting before their departure. One of them, Easy Listening Top 40 in The next day of judging was a relaxed Hank and Charlotte Henley, had a quart of Billboard that Decem- day. A few bugs had terminally engaged my Type F fluid and the other, Joe and Lana Hill, Lincoln the day before, and we were not in- ber, and the Billboard produced an LCOC Directory. I called Don- vited to the party, so the problem was ad- ald "Doc" Ellis who lives in Salado. Doc Hot 100 in January 1966, dressed, and a bit of dust was removed from came to my rescue. We found a hose clamp peaking that March on the engine bay. Then I visited with fellow and some iron tie wire at his "City Garage." the Easy Listening chart attendees and swapped stories about the privi- We cut off the compression connector and at #2 and on the Hot 100 lege of ownership. Once again, I met folks made our shade-tree repairs. Running the at #22. who were compendiums of information and steering wheel lock to lock did not produce wisdom. Listening to them discuss the specif- Petula Clark's run of even one drop of fluid, so, with Doc's bless- ics of motor oil and engine design of the '60s ing, I took off for Austin. We rolled into the 1966 and 1967 hits in- was an experience in and of itself. driveway without a hitch or one spilled drop clude many written by The day was completed with the car tak- of fluid. These folks showed me during my Hatch: "My Love" (a U.S. ing third place in her class. The trophy was crisis another element of LCOC membership, number one), "A Sign of definitely earned and graciously accepted as that is the commitment of their friendship to the bruises and bloodshed will attest. The the Times," "I Couldn't their fellow members. skills of Larry and Danny really made it hap- At the end of the day, the restoration of Live Without Your pen, so it would be honest to say, "we" won this Lincoln will be much more than a resto- Love," "Who Am I," our first real competition against some real ration. It has been and will continue to be a "Colour My World," race horses. On Sunday morning, we all gath- work-in-progress and an adventure. Some- "Don't Sleep in the Sub- ered for brunch, drank coffee, told lies and thing I had not realized in the beginning of way" and "The Other had great fellowship. I wanted a picture of the this quest was just how many meaningful Lincoln down by the river before departing Man's Grass Is Always relationships would be made both in the club for Austin. I drove down by the river, and as I and under the hood. Of course, there would Greener." He wrote all of backed into position, I noted pale smoke not have been a project without the expert these (except "My Love") around the car. This was not supposed to hap- guidance from Larry, master Lincoln mechan- with his wife, Jackie pen. But, to my chagrin, a compression fitting ic, friend, and neighbor. (Continued on page 9) had failed, and every turn of the wheel ejected (Continued on page 9)

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(Continued from page 8) Trent. "A Sign of the The Mark V is a Very Popular Lincoln Times," "Who Am I" and This article originally appeared in issue 292 of in metallic gray with a cordovan half roof, "Colour My World" were Continental Comments and featured Mark Vs and it has only 16,000 miles after 31 years, not hits in Britain. that appeared at the 2009 Salado Mid-America and that includes the 1,130 miles on the trip Though still married Meet. down from the Twin Cities. The car even has to his first wife, Hatch Continental Mark Vs continue to be the Nannette's name on the dash as proof of origi- most popular cars in LCOC, certainly the most nal ownership. This car won a Senior first in began an affair with popular cars of the Mark series and the 2009 Salado. They kept the mileage low by only Jackie Trent; who had Mid-America National Meet in Salado, Texas driving it on nice days, never in the rain or become a frequent song- was no exception. Nine of them were reg• snow, and there is a lot of snow in Minnesota. writing collaborator. istered and seven showed up. We do not know This ongoing affair was if it is the classic styling or the fairly good num- the inspiration for the ber of Mark Vs with low mileage available to buyers or a combination of the two. Mark Vs song "I Couldn't Live have been enormously popular with our mem- Without Your Love." bers for at least the past decade, and their popu- Hatch and Trent larity is reflected in selling prices that continue were married in 1966. to be strong in an uncertain market for many other collector cars of all makes. We were lucky enough to be able to interview all the Mark V owners in Salado but one. Bob and Nan Roth with their as-new 1978 Mark V. Bob has a 1980 Continental Mark VI that he drives to events locally. This was the first time they drove the 1978 Mark V this far. But they do drive it to major shows. This is not a trailered car. The car still has the original vari- able venturi carburetor which is about ready to be rebuilt. Bob points out that you can still get the carburetor rebuild kit, but you can't get the slides anymore. Jackie Trent (Continued on page 10)

Their duet "The Two Of Ralph Keller’s Mark V convertible More Pat Corbett Us" reached number three in the Australian The most unusual Mark V at the meet was (Continued from page 8) charts in 1967 and creat- a 1979 convertible conversion entered by Ralph Keller of Porter, Texas. Keller also owns two I encourage anyone with a passion for ed a demand for concert Mark Ills, a Mark II, and a 1948 Lincoln Conti- any Lincoln, regardless of its condition, to and cabaret performanc- nental Cabriolet. He bought the Mark V 12 embrace it with the notion that the journey es earning the duo the years ago at the auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. of restoration is a great adventure. If you are nickname of "Mr & Mrs. He is one of the few people to get a good buy in not mechanically inclined, I certainly advise you to embrace the skills of others, especial- Music." The couple also Scottsdale. The reason, it was the third car to come across the block. He bid around $13,700, ly those with gray hair in the business. There wrote the song "Joanna," and they took it. That was the same price he is grease in their blood and a style in their a hit for Scott Walker. paid for a 1979 in 1979. Ralph does not know approach that is grounded in an era when the One of their more unusu- the complete history of the car. The former trade was handed down from father to son. I al collaborations was the owner bought it in Colorado Springs and drove am proud to have gotten some of that grease at least under my fingernails in the process. song "We'll Be With You" it down to Scottsdale and used it strictly for Owning a vintage Lincoln has the additional written for Stoke City parades, so it is a low mileage car. The manu- facturer is Cabriolet Edition in Texas, and they reward of knowing vintage people of the Football Club in the only built six of these cars. same quality as the Lincoln itself. club's successful run for Bob and Nannette Roth drove down from the League Cup in 1972. Plymouth, Minnesota in a 1978 Continental Lincoln - Nothing can be finer... (Continued on page 10) Mark V that they bought new! This is a Pucci 9

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(Continued from page 9) The song featured the Mark V continued... team and supporters and (Continued from page 9) sell it, but after some years the grandson was recorded at the sup- persuaded the family to sell it rather than porters club using PYE let the car deteriorate just sitting in the Records mobile studio. barn. The song is still sung by fans as the team runs out on matchdays. During the 1970s, Hatch and Trent diversi- fied into musical theater. Their first project, The Craig Adams 1979 Mark V Givenchy Card, based on Arnold Bennett's novel, with Craig Adams from Houston entered a book by Keith Water- 1979 Mark V Givenchy; which has 71,000 house and Willis Hall, miles. He has had the car for a little over Wayne On’s 1979 Mark V ran in London's West two years. The Car came from somewhere up in the northern part of the country but Wayne bought the car on eBay from End with Jim Dale and was never driven in the snow. It was the family about five years ago. The car Millicent Martin in the brought down to Houston by another mem- had 48,000 miles when Wayne bought it, lead roles. ber of the club; who sold it to Craig. This and the car now has less than 50,000 miles. (Coincidentally, Petula car has the fairly rare moon roof option. It The car won a Primary second in Salado. Clark had starred in the won a Primary Third. By the way, there 1952 film version with were four Mark Vs entered in the Primary Class. The metallic blue, actually almost Alec Guinness.) Hatch purple color, is unique to the 1979 Giv- produced the Original enchy. Australian Cast Record- ing of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats in 1985, whilst serving as the show's production musical director. Jim and Wanda Ashley’s Hatch and Trent sep- Wedgewood Blue 1979 Mark V arated in 1995 and di- vorced in 2002. Trent Jim and Wanda Ashley, Fort Worth, entered a 1979 Mark V in Wedgewood died on March 21, 2015, Brian Felt with his 1979 Mark Cartier Blue. This is a standard Mark V. Jim works in Menorca after a long for the Postal Service. About 10 years ago, illness. Brian Felt, Houston, and Director of the he was in Abilene where he got to talking to On June 13, 2013, Texas Gulf Coast Region entered a beige a fellow worker; who mentioned that he had Hatch was inducted into 1979 Mark V Cartier; which he bought on this Mark. He said that his wife died two eBay about a year before the Salado meet. years previously and the Mark V was just the Songwriters Hall of Strangely enough, the seller was from Lo- sitting in the garage. He said they only Fame, at a ceremony gan, Utah where Brian is originally from, drove the car on weekends, mostly to held at the New York and he actually knew the seller from years church. The car only had 33,000 miles when Marriott Marquis. He ago. The seller's father had a collection of the Ashley’s bought it. The car now has was accompanied by his 36 cars and had passed away. The car won a 44,000 miles. This was the only Mark V to wife, Maggie. Primary third in Salado. win a Primary first in Salado. Wayne On, Midlothian, Texas entered The only Mark V owner; who we did not Hatch has two a light metallic blue 1979 Continental get to interview in Salado was Leo Foust daughters from his first Mark V. This is the standard model; which from Georgetown, Texas. He entered a 1979 marriage to Jean, as well was bought new by a lady in Virginia. She Continental Mark V Bill Blass. The year (Continued on page 11) passed away, the daughter did not want to (Continued on page 11)

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(Continued from page 10) More Mark Vs Iconic Mark II as a son and daughter from his marriage to (Continued from The 2009 Eastern National Meet in Lan- caster, Pennsylvania will go down in LCOC Jackie Trent. He now history as the club's first National Meet to lives in Menorca, Spain, attract nine Continental Mark IIs. The 2008 with his third wife, Mag- West National Meet in Irvine attracted eight of gie. them, and we all thought that was a record not Although Tony to be broken. But for whatever reason, they came out in Lancaster in our most impressive Hatch had success in numbers ever. various segments of the entertainment industry from the '60s onwards, he'll be best remembered Leo Faust with his 1979 Bill Blass for his work as a produc- 1979 was the first year of the Bill Blass in er and songwriter for the nautical theme. The vinyl top and upper several British pop and body was white, and the midsection and bot- rock stars in the '60s. As tom were dark blue. The rear quarter of the The nine Mark IIs at Lancaster a staff producer at Pye roof carried the Bill Blass signature anchor. Records, Hatch worked The interior was either white with white leather seats with Midnight Blue accents or Franklin and Margaret Zentkovic Smith- with the Searchers, Petu- all Midnight Blue. field, Pennsylvania entered a light green 1956 la Clark, his wife, Jackie There seems to be a classic pattern to the Mark II with a green and white leather interi- Trent and on several Mark V stories. The original owner liked the or. They bought the car in the Washington, mid'60s singles by David car so much he seldom drove it and never D.C. area in 2000 and Frank has done most of Bowie, long before that drove it in bad weather. Eventually, the origi- the restoration work himself. singer had become fa- nal owner died with very low mileage on the Joe and Karen Gagliardi, Will Street, car. It sat in a garage or barn for years until Pennsylvania entered one of the three cars mous. Hatch's produc- the family decided to take it to an auction or that had originally been two tone, but it is all tions boasted a clean and put it on eBay where a member of LCOC silver gray now. This 1956 Mark II was orig- well-arranged sound bought it. inally ordered with a white top and dark gray that, particularly on his Mark Vs were built from 1977 through bottom. It was ordered that way by an execu- collaborations with Petu- 1979, and a lot of them were built, espe• tive from Greyhound to match the Grey- la Clark, displayed some cially in the Designer Series of Bill Blass, hound colors. But when he took delivery of Givenchy, Pucci, and Cartier. More desirable the car, he did not like the color combination traces of mainstream now than even the Designer Series is the 1978 and had the top painted dark gray. Joe had pop and Broadway. Diamond Jubilee Edition and 1979 Collector's the car repainted all silver gray by the Lincoln Hatch left his biggest Series. The press looked down their noses at -Mercury dealer in Lancaster. When they imprint, however, on the the Mark Vs as being big, over bloated barges stripped the old paint, they found the white top big international hits by but luxury car buyers loved them and col• paint underneath confirming the original color lectors love them to this day. There are a lot story. This is a 96,000 mile car still with the Petula Clark in the of them around today in ratty but good run- original interior. It has air conditioning; which mid'60s. These had ning condition. You will seldom if ever see was not very common for 1956 models. enough mod swing to sell such cars at our national and regional meets. Chris Cimarusti, Manalapan, New Jersey to a rock audience, but You will see a significant number of them in entered a black on black 1956 Mark II; which also enough show-bizzy very good original condition and with fairly he bought in 1983. It was a 24 year restoration horns and theatrical- low miles. To date, we have not heard of any- project and was first shown at the 2008 West- body restoring a Mark V, but it is bound to ern National Meet in Irvine, California. type piano to bring in happen sooner or later. Nick DeSpirito, Director of the Mid- older listeners. The ar- Atlantic Region, entered another one of the rangements had a grand two tone cars. It has a gray top and white sweep that recalled stage body. Nick has had this car since 1988 and musicals. In addition to had it restored in 1994. It was restored to producing, Hatch was the authenticity manual specs. Bill and Rita Wybenga from Brampton, vital to Clark as a song- (Continued on page 12) (Continued on page 12) 11

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(Continued from page 11) writer, supplying, either Iconic Mark IIs continued... as sole author or co- (Continued from page 11) As a collector car, the Continental writer (sometimes with Ontario, Canada entered a silver 1957 mod- Mark II is far more successful than it ever Clark herself), much of el with a black leather interior. This car is was as a new car or even as a used car. In her best material: mostly original but has been repainted. 1955-56•57 a mere 3,015 were built before "Downtown," "My Love," They bought the car in 2002 and entered it Ford decided to call it quits and tack the "I Know a Place," "Call at Ford's 100th Anniversary Meet in Dear- Continental Mark III name on an upscale born in 2003. version of the 1958 Lincoln. Originally, Me," and "A Sign of the Joseph and Mae Armstrong, Poughkeep- demand for the Mark II dropped like a rock Times," to name just the sie, New York, entered a black 1956 with a after the first 1,500 or so were sold. most celebrated exam- gray leather interior. It is a mostly original Strangely enough, many of the used ples, are all Hatch com- car with 37,000 miles. Mark II buyers were collectors and as a col- positions. Hatch also de- Bob and Jean DiCarlo, Painesville, lectors' item demand for the car remains serves a good deal of Ohio entered the third two-tone car, a 1956 strong today, more than 50 years after the last credit for putting Clark Mark II that is a very unusual color com• Mark II rolled off the line. bination. It is one of only 15 of the two in the international spot- tone cars that is deep bronze on the roof light to begin with. In and medium bronze on the bottom. It is one 1964, Clark was on the of only two made in this color combi• verge of giving up on nation with the light beige nylon basket maintaining her stardom weave interior pattern with medium beige in England, in favor of leather seat bolsters and light beige seat welts. Both of the Mark IIs in this color focusing her efforts on combination were air-conditioned. The res- France (where she was toration of the interior on the DiCarlo car is very big, and often rec- slightly different from the original. Only 64 orded in the French lan- Mark IIs were originally two-toned, and guage). Hatch went to this may be the first time that three two- France to play her some toned Mark IIs have appeared at an LCOC National Meet. songs to consider recording for the English- speaking market and Period photograph of William Clay wasn't able to come up Ford, who desperately wanted a with anything Petula successor vehicle to his father’s liked until, out of desper- original Continental. ation, he played a compo- For the 1949 model year, all three divi- sition influenced by sions of Ford Motor Company unveiled their American soul, although first post-war product line, with Lincoln dis- he didn't think Clark was The very proud Mark II owners continuing the Lincoln Continental after six a suitable artist for it. years of production (interrupted by World This was, of course, Chip and Phyllis Wright from Atlanta, War II). Following World War II, the Lin- "Downtown; " Clark loved Georgia entered a fully restored deep green coln and Mercury brands had been grouped metallic 1956 model with a two-tone green together within a common division to it, recorded it, and her leather interior. He bought it from David streamline their operations. While the Lin- career revived in Eng- Jenkins who had the restoration done at a coln Continental had gone on to build a posi- land, the single also be- restoration shop. This car was entered at tive reputation, the Continental was an aging coming her first Ameri- the Eastern National Meet in Columbus, design, as a variant of the 1936 Lincoln- can hit. Ohio last year where Jenkins showed the Zephyr. From the internet... car for Wright. Following the withdrawal of the 1939– Shepard and Jane Ellenberg, 1948 Lincoln Continental, by the early Millbrook, New York, entered a maroon 1950s, interest in a successor vehicle proved 1957 model; which they bought three years sufficient for Ford Motor Company to com- ago as a completely restored car. They first mence development on a successor. In 1952, entered it at the 2007 Eastern National the company formed the Special Product Meet in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. (Continued on page 13)

NORTHSTAR NEWS Mark IIs continued...

(Continued from page 12) While rivaling a Rolls-Royce in price, by the end of the Operations team (later Special Products Division). Led by production of the Mark II, William Clay Ford, the team consisted of John Reinhart Ford Motor Company esti- (chief stylist), Gordon Buehrig (chief body engineer; designer mated it lost nearly $1,000 of the Cord 810), and Harley Copp (chief engineer). for every example produced. Initially meeting with rejection from upper Ford In 1957, Cadillac entered the management, in 1953, design work was approved to bring a Cadillac Eldorado Brough- successor to the Continental to production. The same year, am into production. While a the personal luxury segment saw several American-produced four-door hardtop sedan, the vehicles enter production, Eldorado Brougham was with the launch of the lim- sized closely to the Mark II, ited-production Cadillac overtaking it as the most Harley Copp, Chief Engineer, Eldorado, Buick Skylark, expensive American- Special Projects Division (to the and Oldsmobile Fiesta con- produced vehicle. right) showing off an experi- vertibles by General Motors From the beginning, the mental Ford V8 engine. (concurrent with the launch Continental Mark II was of the Chevrolet Corvette, as called by the press "The $10,000 Continental." Never before had a roadster) and the Packard there been an assembly line produced American car in that price John Reinhart, Chief Stylist, Caribbean convertible. range, the pricy Continental was built to open up a new luxury Special Products Division Under William Clay Ford, car market and steal the U.S. prestige car leadership from Cadil- the Special Products Divi- lac which had dominated the market since the late thirties. Pro- sion set out several objectives. In addition to creating a suc- duction was targeted at 2,500 to 4,000 a year. This was a mere cessor to the 1939–1948 drop in the bucket in terms of total Ford Motor Company pro- Lincoln Continental personal duction (2,200,000 passenger cars in 1955) or even Lincoln pro- luxury car, the Continental duction (27,000 that same year), yet the effort to build the Mark Mark II was also intended to II was out of all proportion to the projected volume. It was a $25 revive the memory of the million investment with its own separate Continental Division 1930s coachbuilt Lincoln with 30-year-old William Clay Ford at the head. Model K, among the flagship The Continental Division was a complete break from Ford American automobiles of the tradition. The 1940-41 Lincoln Continental was built within the time. In April 1955, the Con- Lincoln Division and plant. The Mark II had its own styling, and tinental Division was created engineering department and nowhere on the car did the name by Ford Motor Company as Lincoln appear except on the windshield washer water bottle. a stand-alone division to The car was developed over a three-year period using stretched handle the Continental Mark 1952-53 Lincolns as engineering bucks and with final styling II. While a two-door hardtop completely independent of Lincoln. The frame was an entirely would be offered as the de- Gordon Buehrig new design, but the running gear was shared with Lincoln, but but vehicle, the model range Chief Body Engineer with a much higher degree of precision parts engineering. would expand to a retracta- The boldest stroke about the Mark II was its marketing ble-hardtop convertible and a four-door hardtop sedan. While which broke new ground for a luxury American automobile. No- the original Continental coupe sold relatively poorly in con- body knew how many people might pay $10,000 for an Ameri- trast to its convertible counterpart, the Special Products Divi- can automobile. Market research had concluded that there were sion set out to introduce a full range of body styles (in con- 250,000 to 300,000 families in the U.S. who could afford such an trast to the Cadillac Eldorado and Packard Caribbean, sold automobile. But how many would pony up that kind of money exclusively as convertibles). for a car was still a question. In 1953, the highest priced U.S. car The Continental Mark II made its world debut in October was Cadillac's Eldorado convertible at $7,750 with a mere 532 1955. First unveiled at the 1955 Paris Auto Show, the Mark II built. By lowering the price to $5,738 in 1954 Cadillac was able debuted in the United States at Ford Motor Company head- to build 2,150. In the 1955 banner year for the industry for most quarters in Dearborn, Michigan. Intended as a successor to makes Cadillac built 3,950 Eldorados. But these were converti- the Lincoln Continental (effectively making its predecessor a bles, and all that the Continental Division would offer was a two Mark I), the $9,695 Continental Mark II was the most expen- -door hardtop. sive domestic-produced automobile sold in the United States; Continental Division management pinned its hopes on get- only one option was offered for the Mark II, with Continental ting initial production into the hands of the right people, movie charging $595 for air conditioning (used through interior- stars and other entertainers, key politicians, industrialists and mounted ducts). known millionaires. It never occurred to them that only a hand-

NORTHSTAR NEWS Mark IIs continued….

(Continued from page 13) Of course, Continental buyers also received quality in ful of such people would want such an automobile. Most of spades. The car had the finest of trim and a minimum of it, the those "right people" were satisfied with Cadillacs, Imperials, best imported leather, the richest of deep pile carpeting — even Lincolns and expensive imports, or they were perfectly con- in the trunk, funeral parlor like quiet, the most minute attention to tent owning two Fords or Chevrolets. But the Continental detail possible in a production car, cor•rosion control previously Division was so confident that plenty of such people could be unheard of, a hand rubbed finish, and a power train assembled to found they built 1,000 Mark IIs by the end of 1955. The in- the most rigid standards of the day. The quality approached that troduction was October 21, 1955. of a 2010 Toyota, or for that matter a 2010 Ford. They researched the demand for such a car by interview- Unfortunately for the Continental Mark II, by 1956 quality ing movie stars including John Wayne. (There is no record had long been established in even the Ford, Chevrolet and Plym- that the Duke ever bought a Continental Mark II.) They pro- outh. The level of mass production quality in All-American cars filed the market to be conservative millionaires, theatrical in the late thirties killed the market for Classic cars. By 1940, types, oil tycoons, radio and television commentators, big Lincoln no longer needed to build the Classic K. Millionaires time restaurateurs, and a few others who would like to be were buying Lincoln-Zephyrs and Lincoln Continentals. Before seen in a car that would put them in the Diamond Jim Brady Ford built the Mark II, they should have looked into their own league. They were off the mark on all counts except oil ty- history. During the Great Depression, out-of-work Americans coons, and that one came into play in a strange way. Oil rich were throwing apples and even rocks at Packards and Duesen- Native Americans in Oklahoma and the Texas pan•handle bergs, so the owners put such cars up on blocks and drove flocked to the Mark II like their ancestors with arrows to cov- Fords. Expensive cars were no longer benchmarks of enormous ered wagons. J.C. Daniels in Pampa, Texas outsold all other wealth. That had not really changed by the mid-50s. Continental dealers in the country, and when these cars were The Continental Division briefly considered building a re- traded in a few years later Daniels started collecting them and tractable hardtop. But realizing how few they could sell Ford became the largest holder of Continental Mark IIs in the decided to build retractable Fords instead and recover their In- world! vestment in retractable top engineering. Before the Continental Mark II ever got into production They were right. Even millionaires liked the idea of driving Cadillac announced it would build a $13,000 Eldorado around in a retractable car with a Ford nameplate. The Continen- Brougham four-door hardtop for 1957. For the same model tal Division did toy around with the idea of a standard Continen- year, Cadillac would spiff up the Eldorado convertible and tal Mark II convertible, but here again, the cost got in the way. hardtop and raise the price to $7,300. The Brougham bombed They did build at least one, and William Clay Ford kept it as his with 400 built, but 2,100 coupes and 1,800 convertibles for wife's personal car for several years. But there was never any 1957 found homes in Beverly Hills and elsewhere at $7,286 serious attempt at a Continental Mark II convertible. each while Continental Mark II sales fizzled like Fourth of July Ford's chairman of the board Ernest firecrackers made in Russia. The Cadillac Brougham quickly R. Breech made two monumental deci- proved that any American car at $10,000 or more was destined sions in his career with Ford. The first for oblivion, but if you had more than one body style and was in 1946 when he decided to take E. T. could keep a lid on the price at well under the $10,000 figure Gregorie's proposal for the 1949 Ford and you might have a fighting chance at getting the likes of Jack bump it up to a Mercury and build an all- Benny to open up their wallets. new 1949 Ford from scratch in just 18 What well-heeled buyers got in the months. This decision ultimately saved $10,000 Continental was only one body the Ford Motor Company after the senior style, a two door hardtop with barely Henry Ford had been throwing monkey enough back seat room for two or three wrenches into the machinery for years. children. Old folks could barely squeeze Ernest R. Breech, His other monumental decision was to lis• into the back seat, and according to the Chairman of the ten to dealers who by 1952 were clamor• Board, Ford Motor late Bob Estes, this is one major factor ing for the rebirth of the Continental and Company that killed sales. Another was that the all presented their wishes to the executive new and radically styled new 1956 Lin- committee. But Breech cannot be blamed for the $10,000 Con- coln came in three body styles and two tinental. If he had anything in mind, it might have been a Conti- models at two price levels. Even the 1956 nental designed and priced closer to the Lincoln. His claim to Lincoln convertible cost less than half the fame here is that he got the Continental ball rolling again. John S. Pillsbury, Early Mark II price of a 1956 Continental Mark II. John J.R. Davis calculated that a reborn Continental should sell owner from S. Pillsbury, the famous Minnesota mil• in the $6,500 range, about where the Cadillac Eldorado was sell- Minnesota lionaire and yachtsman quickly bought a ing in the mid-50s. From the Davis Report the Special Products black 1956 Lincoln Capri sedan so his Division, later the Continental Division, was formed in 1952. At elderly parents could comfortably sit in the back seat. (Continued on page 15)

NORTHSTAR NEWS A little more Mark IIs

(Continued from page 14) power and an improved automatic transmission. But the hand- its head would be William Clay Ford, youngest of the three writing was on the wall. While 1,251 units were built in 1955 as Ford brothers. Harley Copp, an impressive young engineer, 1956 models and 1,307 more were built in 1956 as 1956 models was put in charge of the project under Earl S. McPherson, an only 442 were built for 1957. That only adds up to 3,000, but engineer as conservative as his Scottish name. John Reinhart, Bob Davis had claimed that 3,015 were built before Mark II pro- who worked on the Cord and designed the 1951 Packard, was duction was discontinued midyear 1957. put in charge of styling. These three capable men put together Many reasons were given for abandoning the project. The an impressive team of managers, engineers, stylists, and mar- main one seems to be that Ford went public with their stock in keters. 1956 and management felt they had to show a profit with every Everybody in top Ford management had their own idea of division. The Continental Division was a dismal failure from a what the Continental Mark II should be like. To Breech, it profit standpoint. Key personnel with the Continental Division, would be something futuristic and flashy like the X-100 show such as John Reinhart and Bob Thomas, felt that the division did car. Henry and Benson Ford saw it as a sports car. William not have to turn a profit. The car was a prestige leader for the Clay Ford, Harley Copp, and John Reinhart saw it as a de- Ford Motor Company. General Motors built the Corvette at a scendant of the original Lincoln Continental, yet the styling calculated loss for years. would have to be very contemporary. All agreed that even at say $6,500 the car would lose money, at least for the first few years. The styling objective was either "modern formal" or "modern informal." Four styling teams were assigned to the project. Several of them came up with designs based on the original Lincoln Continental. In the end, the Continental Division's own design team won out with a unique and re- freshing "modern formal" design that bore very little resem- blance to the original except for the hump on the deck-lid. How this car got up into the $10,000 range is a very good question. For one thing, dies for such a low production car get to be very expensive. Another factor was the expense of Harley Copp's radically new cow belly frame in such a low production car. Another was the cost of detail. The hood William Clay Ford and his personal Mark II ornament alone cost as much as the whole grille on a Ford. The devil was really in the details on this project. Who really The Continental Division was folded into the Lincoln Divi- needed chrome plated door jambs or jewel like instrumenta- sion. For the years 1958-60, the Continental was continued as tion or wheel covers that approached the price of a purchase the Continental Mark III, Mark IV, and Mark V. It was a glori- from Tiffany's. And so on it went. They even decided to build fied version of the 1958-60 Lincoln, and the price did not ex- a new plant to produce the car. ceed $6,500 even for the convertible in 1958. Sales were better Before long it was very evident that the car would retail than 1956-57 but not a lot. With the introduction of the down- for far more than the price originally envisioned by Breech or sized 1961 Lincoln Continental, all hope of a Mark series van- set down in the Davis Report. To minimize the cost only one ished until 1968 when an entirely different philosophy — a body style could be built, a two-door hardtop and even then Mark series derived from a Thunderbird. the price would have to be boosted up to around $10,000. As used cars, Continental Mark Its did not sell very well at Well, why not just round it off to $10,000. Now the slide rule first. But when the prices got down under $5,000 or about in the boys had to convince themselves that they could sell at least range of new Lincoln dealers began to find buyers. They were a 1,600 of these cars a year. To make sure they did Henry Ford special kind of buyers. They were car collectors. The Continental II put a smart young executive named Ben Mills directly un- Mark II, a qualified failure as a new car, was a big hit with car der Bill Ford. collectors and has remained so for decades. Now there are less Things started off according to plan. Within a few than 2,000 left, and many of these are not in very good condition. months, some 1,200-1,500 Mark IIs were sold. Then the de- What we are beginning to see at our National Meets is the re- mand fell right off the charts. Dealers tried everything to sell venge of the Continental Mark II. It is starting to come out to our the cars including making drastic discounts which did not sit shows in impressive numbers because there was a market for the well with the celebrity types who had paid $10,000. Mean- car after all — and it is right here in our Lincoln and Continental while, stylists were feverishly at work on a four-door Berline Owners Club. for 1958 that would give a sedan option. The 1957 models incorporated all of the 1957 Lincoln mechanical improvements which included increased horse-

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Winter Driving in my First Car….A Toyota

As related to us by Greg Gjerdingen…. there was a lot of snow accumulated on the edge of the road I had my license for that year, it was still early in the season, so the snow was rela- almost a year, and I was tively soft. working at Tom Thumb Now to get the car out of this mess, the Corolla’s poor convenience store on snowbility had made me an expert rocker. That ability was new year’s eve — with stymied without the clutch. Using the slick, snow-covered 1982 less than two hours roads to my advantage, I started the car in reverse, and the car away. It had been snow- moved back until the front wheels hit that hard lower edge of ing all evening, with six the plowed, packed snow mixed with salt and sand. So to seven inches of snow close…. I could ease up on the gas and roll a bit forward, then on the ground, and still punch the gas again and it would just about make it over, and Greg’s Toyota.. Oh what a feeling! coming down fast. I then the rear wheels would lose traction and slide forward worked late, 10 or 11 again. p.m. My 1969 Toyota Corolla needed gas, and I went to the gas All it needs is a little push. (insert light bulb here, proba- station across the street from the store. I started the car up and bly a 2 watt incandescent, a fluorescent or LED would be way depressed the clutch and was greeted with a loud TWANN- too bright) I started the car in reverse again, got out and went NGGGG! It was not hard to figure out the clutch cable had to the front of the car and pushed. Almost, almost, almost, a snapped, since pushing the clutch no longer did anything. few times and then with a burst of energy shoved it over the I only lived nine blocks away, but friends and relatives edge. Woohoo! The car is out! Then I watched as the car were back at the house for a New Year gathering, and I wanted backed away from me. Shoot, I ran after the car and reached to join. I was determined to get myself and the car back home. the bumper guards and grabbed them. YES! Nice, but now the The only gear that I could get the car into was reverse. car just kept on going gaining momentum pulling me along Still snowing like crazy, the roads were empty and un- dragging my feet in a scene that could have been an inspiration plowed because it was close to new year’s midnight. I took off for another idiotic Jackass episode, “Driverless reverse snow backward down the street. Now the heating system apparently car skiing” It did not last long though. The Toyota crunched to was not designed for Minnesota winters; the defroster could a halt, and I slid over the hood up to the windshield. barely keep the windshield clear with the highest heat and fan The combination of harder packed snow and lower speed settings. The back window was impossible to see through, ramped the underside of the trunk to the top of the boulevard snow piling up on the outside and condensation on the inside. I snow ridge. Surprisingly, I was unharmed, and even more opened the driver’s door and tried to guide the Toyota home. amazingly, the car seemed undamaged hitting the mound of Reverse progress was tedious, and the rear-wheel-drive Corolla snow in between a tree and telephone pole. The Corolla was was kicking snow in my face. still smoothly idling along. It could keep running without the I stopped and rethought the situation. I was unable to put clutch, because even with the suspension completely extended, the car in gear while it was running… I turned the car off and the rear wheels were both spinning uninhibited six inches off started the car in first gear. Wow, much better forward motion, the ground. first gear still kind of slow for an anxious teenager. I eased up Feeling somewhat defeated and more than a little stupid, I on the gas and shifted into second without the clutch. Progress, walked the block back to the house. I greeted the New Year yeah! celebrants and simply explained that my car was stuck and I Getting close to home, it was time to make some turns. needed a shovel. Some people offered to assist, but I refused, I Understeer, I discovered, is a big issue for a rear-wheel-drive did not have the energy to explain everything that happened. I car with no clutch and brakes that only stop the front wheels. I walked back to the car and shoveled the snow out from under glided through the first couple of turns, now coming up to the the car, and the rear wheels eventually were back on the house. The driveway is a typical right angle off the street but at ground. That was not enough though; much more snow had to a pretty good incline. I needed enough momentum to get up the come out for the wheels to get enough traction to extricate the hill but not so much to launch into the neighbors’ floor-to- Corolla from the great white menace. I do not remember how, ceiling picture window. Turns out I had no problem with either. but once the car was free, I was able to get the Toyota into the The downward slope of the street, slippery snow and constantly driveway. There was no way I was going to begin the New powered rear wheels meant the car literally slid right past our Year digging that car out of the snow after it had been buried house. by a snowplow. Toyota – OH what a feeling! Oh well, I was pretty patient for a teenager, I just drove Editor’s note… Our thanks to Greg Gjerdingen for send- around the block, no problem. First two corners were fine. The ing us this well crafted and enjoyable story. Put your creative third was a “T” intersection and did not go well. The Corolla hats on and send in an article for our newsletter today. You exploded through the accumulated snow on the boulevard in- can spend your time more constructively than watching reruns stead of around the corner. It was quite dramatic, so I got out of Law and Order on one of the cable channels. and inspected the damage. Cool, no trees no damage, although

Preview of Coming Events

March Sunday Brunch at Jax’s Café, Minneapolis, Sunday March 24, at 10:30 AM 1928 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN. Note the early time…….

April Sunday Brunch, April 28, 2019 at the Holman’s Table Restaurant , 644 Bayfield St, St Paul, 11:30 AM

May 11th Annual Memorial Weekend Lincoln Car show, Bloomington Lincoln Saturday, May 25, 2019, 10 AM to 2 PM Lincoln car display, Saturday, May 18, 11:30 AM to 3 PM, hosted by members Jeff and Wendy Eisenberg, at their Libson Twin City Auto, 1218 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis. More next month.

June Saturday, June 29th, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM North Star Region, 17th Annual Classic Lincoln Out State Car Show at the John McDowall’s car collection

For Sale

1990 Mark VII Bill Blass

Good condition, runs and drives great. 47K miles $5,000 — Call Clarence Stender, 952.467.2883 or Cell 612.247.4828

For Sale

1967 Continental Convertible Two owner car with only 85,000 miles. Service records since 1977. Arctic White with newer correct leather interior and ivory top. Always pampered and maintained with original 462 V8. Stainless steel exhaust and top mechanism works fine. Award winner in Touring/Original at 2012 and 2018 Mid-America National Meet. $39,000 Call Jon Cumpton at 612-859-1483.

BACK ISSUES OF THE NORTHSTAR NEWS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE ON THE NORTHSTAR LCOC WEB SITE. www.northstarlcoc.org Click on publications. Issues are in PDF format and may be printed on your color printer.

North Star Activities

Join us for brunch on March 24, 2019, 10:30 AM at Jax Café, 1928 University Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN

Today, the rich history of Jax Cafe has served the families of North- east Minneapolis faithfully for 75 years. Bill Kozlak, Jr. follows in his father and grandfather’s footsteps by preserving the rich tradition of Jax Cafe while continuing the promise of uncompromised service. Known for a warm welcome and traditional atmosphere, Jax Cafe serves only the finest menu of premium cuts and fresh seafood flown in from all over the world. See you there on March 24, 10:30 AM for the best brunch in town!

Please RSVP to Jay White by Thursday, March 20, 2019, at 612-599-6219 or email [email protected] if you plan on attending.

No Fooling… It is a brand new location for an North Star Sunday Brunch.

Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.

Come join us at Holman’s Table, 644 Bayfield Street, St. Paul. At Holman’s field, St. Paul’s downtown airport for a unique dining experience. Not a traditional buffet, Holman’s has an extensive menu of absolutely delicious dishes available to satisfy even the most eager North Star eater. We have not been there before, so let us give them a try. They have good recommendations by several on line re- viewers commenting favorably on both service and the quality of their cooking. Let us get together, have a good meal, a nice visit and say hello to May.

RSVP to Bob Johnson, 651-257-1715, email: [email protected] by April 24.

Coming this May

Lincoln car display, Saturday, May 18, 11:30 AM to 3 PM, hosted by members Jeff and Wendy Eisenberg, at their Libson Twin City Auto, 1218 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis. Friends, Food, Fun and Lincolns. All the details next month.

Come on down to our Eleventh Annual Memorial weekend Lincoln car show, held once again at Bloomington Lincoln. Saturday, May 25, 2019 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a nice collection of beautiful Lincolns, new and old, the best of friends to visit with, good food served up by Bloomington Lincoln and some neat door prizes. See you there on May 25.